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Hey everyone!
Sorry it’s been static round here – I blinked and a whole month was gone …
What have you been up to? Please share!
What have I been up to?

First I settled my little people into school life again :Here with Maisy the Prep guinea pig :) My littlest started prep this year! Where has the time gone???

I joined in a couple of QALs!
Here are my first two blocks from the Snapshots QAL :I will have to share pics from the others next time as I haven’t taken any yet lol

I painted our spare room.
This is the colour the whole interior is going to be painted – Taubman’s Straun Grey:I will eventually replace the blinds and wardrobe doors, but it looks nice and fresh so far :)

I put a new QS bed together {all by myself in under an hour lol} for our newly painted spare room :{Yes, that is where my Kate’s Kate now lives!! :) } Curtains were yet to be re-hung in this one …

I made a VERY exciting discovery!!
Leaders and enders!My.Mind.Is.Blown!!
Cut all your scraps to 2.5″ squares and sew a couple together at the start and end of each chain during a project! I can’t tell you how much thread I am saving!!! And I am ending up with these :And you can just keep adding to it! I am going to keep going til I have a huge bright, scrappy quilt top!

I’ve been to the optometrist :I also turned the big 4-OHHH in February!!! Or as I like to call it, Thirty-ten :)
… which might explain my diminishing eyesight haha

I have also been sick and had a niggling cough for a few weeks which I am only just shaking.
And been working hard as usual. I love meeting so many of my customers – I get some fabulous tips and got one this weekend that I am keen to try out when the weather cools down and I can get back in the shed to work on it :)

This baby has been a LONG time coming! I think because she is going to live on my bed I haven’t stressed about rushing to get her done. {After the initial rush to get her top finished – HERE} This is my use of the gorgeous Aussie Kate Spain Charm Swap by the lovely Ms Midge! In case I’ve never mentioned, I adore Kate Spain!

She is queen sized, and more beautiful than ever :)

I was half way thru working on the back when I put her away last year to finish some other projects. And there she languished … until I saw an offer to good to refuse to have her quilted by the fantabulous Kelly from The Quilt Machine!

I had originally intended to make this a true double-sided quilt with a differently pieced back. I had pieced some window-style panels, but I knew there would be no chance I’d finish in time to send to Kel … after all, those freaking panels were why it’s been a UFO for a few months lol
So instead I whipped up the quickest backing I have ever done. {Have you noticed that despite the fact I am taking it “slow” with it, EVERYTHING to do with this quilt has been rushed??} I am happy with the backing tho, it features some of my favourite Kate Spain fabrics with some from Terrain, Cuzco, and Honey Honey. I adore how Kate Spain fabrics look so beautiful together – even from different lines.

Can you guess what my favourite colours are?
I find myself surrounded at home by testosterone with my boys and the man-child Mr Manic … Even the freaking dog is a male! haha. So I think that may have factored a little in my choices. This is MY quilt and I wanted it to be really girly for a change. Either way, I adore it!!

Once I got her home I changed my mind on the binding. I was going to go with a scrappy binding, but went with white instead and I think it works beautifully!

Anyhow … I have a few projects on the boil now, so I’m off! Will share again soon :)
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My littlest baby is starting big boy school this year and I am getting a sad already! :(
Yes! I am one of those Mums.
The ones you see stumbling to the gate after the first drop off, blind with the tears you’ve held in until you’ve left them in their new classroom …
Because you don’t want them to start the day sad too :(
Their excitement makes me feel better.

Why can’t they slow down and stop growing up?
Is it just me or does it go really F A S T?

I am also waiting to get cracking on my next cluster for TAFE. I have lost a little motivation. I am also only part way thru the house painting. And I have heaps of sewing and quilting on my list. So I am hoping I will have HEAPS to do and avoid any moping round missing my babies *sigh*

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On a plus note I have a couple of projects cut out and ready to go, I just haven’t had the space to lay them out without little feet wanting to get past … So I will knock them off the to-do list in the next few weeks!

Anyhow, that’s all I have for this short post … I will have a finish to share whenever we get a break from rain. I’m not complaining cos we reeeaaalllllly need it. But half a day of sunlight would be nice so I can get some pics taken …
Stay tuned for those, they will be sure to cheer me up :)

The fabulous ladies at Make Modern magazine have done a feature on Ms Midge‘s, Aussie Kate Spain Charm Swap … And they featured the projects we made with the goodies from the swap!

My “Kate’s Kate” Quilt has appeared in the feature!!

{Remember her?} I am still so in love with this quilt!

And guess what? I am finished the back and it is being sent off to the fabulous Kelly from The Quilt Machine to work her magic on :) It’s QS and I think the backing is the largest single thing I have ever pieced! haha

I can’t WAIT to get her back and share some pics!
I am shaking in my boots thinking about all.that.binding. tho! :)
I have started cutting strips for it already. I can’t decide on one single binding so it will be another scrappy one I think …

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You really should check out the Make Modern magazine!
It’s a digital magazine with fantastic content – features, tutes, tricks, tips and much, much more! You can find it HERE!

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And while I am plugging things – You should totally head on over and like the fledgling Manic Mumdays Facebook page! You can find that HERE! {Or click the link on the RH side of the blog :)

I love a rainy day! It’s been raining on and off all day here – BLISS as we soo need it!

Just FYI – as I am typing this evening this song is running thru my head and it won’t go away :

So I figure if I share it with you it might! A problem shared is a problem halved, right?
{Edit : It started raining before I finished writing so this song is totally valid! ha!}

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So I thought I might join in the blogging world’s ‘Word of the Year’ this year!
Last year I was still new and didn’t follow nearly as many awesome blogs as I do this year, so this is the inaugural #onelittleword for me … My word for 2015 is … drumroll please … :

{do you see what I did there? ;) }

I have a huge year ahead with Family, Work, Study, Placement, Sewing, Restoring.
I need to use all of my patience and skills to get balance right at the best of times, so 2015 should be a great big test for me! It also ties in nicely with my bucket lists for this year.

2015 Regular Bucket List1. Walk our Jack more regularly {we’re both too chunky!}
2. Practice, practice, practice my Free Motion Quilting
3. Swear less {at least when the kids are in earshot}
4. Be more creative with my cooking
5. Say ‘No’ when I mean it more often
6. Save more / BUDGET better – we’re saving for a holiday to …

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2015 Sewing Bucket List
1. Practice, practice, practice my Free Motion Quilting {you’re not imagining it – this made both lists lol Can you tell I really mean it?}
2. Make a Churn Dash Quilt. I have some Best.Day.Ever to use for this one … Soon. Very soon!
3. Sew more clothes for the kids – they LOVE it when I sew for them :)
4. Make a rainbow Plus Quilt
5. Make a Rainbow Reverse Wonky Star Quilt like this {A long-term goal that I’d like to tackle next year :) }
{I found this gorgeous example on Pintrest from Flutter Kat! }
6. Start using up all my scraps! I love scrappy quilts!
7. Buy as little as possible – Use my stash all up!
8. Log Cabin Quilt
{I found this one on Pintrest by Red Pepper Quilts and I LOVE it!}
9. This Quilt :
{I don’t know where to credit, I found it on Pintrest and it’s link is an error :( So if it’s yours I’m sorry, if you don’t want me to use it please let me know xo}
10. A Drunkards Path Quilt. I actually have this one cut out ready to sew … one day soon!
11. Get my nephew’s and niece’s raggy quilts finished {I am actually aiming at finishing these by the end of January! Wish me luck! :D }

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I will no doubt add to this list, but that will do for now :)Happy New Year everyone, I hope 2015 will be everything you hoped and dreamed of<3

I am doing some cutting today and then will have 4 quilts on the go over the next couple of weeks … There’s still 4 weeks of sleep ins school holidays and Mr Manic goes back to work next week so I am really looking forward to some peaceful sewing time in January! :D

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{There’s a button on this page over there to the left as well -> ;) }